B&B accommodation debuts in Myanmar

Kayin becomes first state in Myanmar to offer guest houses
Kayin has become the first state in Myanmar to offer a bed and breakfast program, reflecting the area’s growing popularity and the lack of good hotel rooms.
The state’s government has so far approved six out of seven applications to open B&B accommodation in Thandaunggyi, a colonial-era hill station located in northern Kayin.
“This is being implemented to cater to the increasing number of tourist arrivals to the state,” said Win Kyaw, head of Kayin’s hotels and tourism department, adding that the bed and breakfast licenses are subject to yearly renewals.
The manager of the Grace for Grace Bed and Breakfast Guest House in Thandaunggyi, who declined to be named, said, “Last December we witnessed the biggest number of tourists and found guest house shortages. But now we have more guest houses here. Each guest house has eight rooms and costs between US$8 and US$32 each.”
The Kayin state government has been a strong advocate of B&B programs as it encourages tourism and opens up business opportunities for remote communities. According to Myanmar’s ministry of hotels and tourism, Kayin received 69,999 foreign visitors in 2015 and 53,681 in 2014.TTG Asia